An annual report to be discussed by the government on Thursday states says
more than half of country’s Roma minority lives n social exclusion, the
Czech News Agency reports. Experts estimate that as more than 113, 000
people. The Roma make up two percent of the country’s population. In some
areas, such as the regions of Ústí or Moravia-Silesia, some two-thirds of
Romanies are said to be socially excluded. Many who fall in this category
have been pushed to the periphery of towns or cities, live in boarding
houses with little opportunity to rent elsewhere, according to ČTK.
Unemployment and personal debt also run high. Last year, some 67 million
crowns were allotted from the state budget for integration projects,
divided among the Education, Culture and Regional Development ministries.
Funds were used, for example, to pay social workers and Roma coordinators.